War And Peace Essay Example for Free

War And Peace Essay This paper will talk about war and will examine whether war is a natural condition and is inevitable or whether war is just an invention of mankind and can be avoided if so desired. The paper will also discuss the consequences of war and some of the factors which trigger and initiate confrontation. Margaret Meade defines war or warfare as a â€Å"recognized conflict between two groups as groups, in which each group puts an army (even if the army is only fifteen pygmies) into the field to fight and kill, if possible, some of the members of the army of the other group. † (Meade, Margaret) Man has been addicted to war for centuries. In ancient times, man did not even need a very strong reason to go to war. He was used to hunting tribes, killing men and women and looting villages. Strength was perceived to be equivalent to the number of lands one could conquer or the number of people one could kill. Men killed in cold blood and considered this way of living to be exciting and glorious. (James, William) This attitude has changed to a large extent in the modern world. One can’t just go out and kill. At least in principle man cannot kill or loot or damage another human being. According to William James, war is permissible â€Å"only when forced upon one, only when an enemys injustice leaves us no alternative. † Nevertheless, the senseless wars and destruction we see all around us today indicates that man’s thirst and fascination for war and bloodshed has not decreased but is simply manifested differently. In other words, â€Å"modern man inherits all the innate pugnacity and all the love of glory of its ancestors. No wonder man has engaged in so many senseless and irrational wars bringing pain and horror to hundreds and thousands of people. (James, William) Man has been a constant supporter of war. This is evident from the numerous conflicts prevalent all around the world. From World War I and II to the Korean War, Vietnam, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Columbia, West Bank and Gaza, Sudan, Yemen, Algeria, Gulf, Turkey, Bosnia, Kosovo, Sarajevo and so on, thousands of people are engaged in combat all across the globe and millions are being killed and injured. If one only looks at the fatalities during the 1990s, one would see that there are nearly â€Å"2 million people dead in Afghanistan, 1. 5 million dead in Sudan, around 800,000 dead in Rwanda, half a million dead in Angola, quarter of a million dead in Bosnia, 200,000 dead in Guatemala; 150,000 dead in Liberia; a quarter of a million dead in Burundi and 75,000 dead in Algeria. † There are hundreds and thousands of people dying in conflicts between Israel and Palestine, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Columbia, Chechnya, Sri Lanka, Kosovo, Ireland, Turkey and not to forget the Persian Gulf. According to statistics, nearly 62 million civilians have died in the wars of the twentieth century. This is nearly 20 million more than the number of military personnel that have been killed during the same time period. According to Will Durant, a historian, â€Å"there have been only twenty nine years in all of human history during which a war was not underway somewhere. † (Hedges, Chris). Since September 11, a new type of war has begun triggered by attacks on America when New York’s World Trade Center was destroyed by two passenger planes being flown into them. Pentagon was also attacked and it is believed that a similar attack had been planned for the White House but did not materialize. This started the War against Terrorism with the United States taking the Taliban head-on and attacking Afghanistan in search of Osama Bin Laden. A similar war was initiated against Iraq accused of carrying weapons of mass destruction. Saddam Hussein was removed as the head of the state, put on trial and executed for his various crimes against humanity. However, the war against terror appears to be never ending. Although many would agree with the cause of this war, the immense destruction and death that has been observed depicts the senselessness of taking on such a conflict. There are extremists at both ends – Islamic fundamentalists on one side and aggressive leaders on the other. There is no hope for any resolution if both parties refuse to listen to each other and refuse to make any efforts to attain peace. It becomes apparent from the never ending bloodshed in Afghanistan and Iraq that man is indeed thirsty for bloodshed otherwise there is simply no reason why such a battle would last this long. No one is winning and there seems to be no conclusion in sight. The theory that because man is a war animal and has been so for centuries is no excuse for the destruction of so many countries and the death of so many soldiers and innocent civilians. In fact there are many societies and people who have never undertaken any conflicts in their lives. These include the Eskimos and the Lepchas of Sikkim. None of these people understand the concept of warfare. Lepchas are gentle and un-quarrelsome people while Eskimos, though not mild, see no necessity of going to war for any reason whatsoever. It may be argued that Eskimos do not possess any land or any assets to have any reason to wage war. That may be true but the fact still remains that the theory than man is biologically designed to wage war appears to be untrue if one looks at certain groups of people that have survived for centuries without waging any war. Thus, war is actually an invention by mankind and even civilized or mild people may go to war if they are aware of this invention. However, those who do not know of war will simply not go to war because they are not yet aware of the invention. They may be violent or civilized; war will never be an option for them. According to Margaret Meade, â€Å"people who do not know of dueling will not fight duels, even though their wives are seduced and their daughters ravished; they may on occasion commit murder but they will not fight duels. Cultures which lack the idea of the vendetta will not meet every quarrel in this way. † (Meade, Margaret) Thus, war is not a necessity but an invention. War can be avoided if human beings see the absolute absurdity of the whole exercise. There is never any positive outcome of war. One party always ends up losing and there is no one to judge whether the side which emerges victorious is the one in the right. War is the worst possible activity mankind can engage in and human beings should collectively work towards outlining alternatives other than war to resolve conflicts. Works Cited James, Williams. The Moral Equivalent of War. From The Best American Essays of the Century, Joyce Carol Gates, ed. , and Robert Atwan, coed. 2000, 45-49, 52-55. Meade, Margaret. Warfare: An Invention—Not a Biological Necessity. Asia. 1940. Hedges, Chris. War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning. Anchor, 2005.

Pathophysiology Of Multiple Sclerosis Health And Social Care Essay

Pathophysiology Of Multiple Sclerosis Health And Social Care Essay Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS) and its characterized mainly by demylination of the myelin sheath (CALABRESI, 2004). There are specific types of MS which are; relapsing-remitting type of MS (RRMS), secondary progressive MS (SPMS), primary progressive MS (PPMS), in addition to other types of MS but they are very rare such as progressive-relapsing MS (Norris, wells, 2007). There are many symptoms that specify MS. these symptoms can be categorized into the initial symptoms, the prodromal symptoms, and the symptoms that come along the course of MS (W.B Matthews, 1992). The recent methods of treatment for MS are mainly focusing at slowing the progression of the disease and keeping the symptoms under control, this can be achieved by using combinations of different medications (MCW Health link, 2007). Patients with MS usually have compromised balance (Fjeldstad, 2009). This can be caused by lesions located in the cerebellum that may lead to ataxia, or it could be as a secondary problem to diplopia, muscular weakness of the trunk or the limbs, vestibular problems, decreased sensory feedback and lower limbs spasticity (Fjeldstad, 2009). One of the new methods discovered to treat and help people with balance problems is the Wii-Fit. Many studies proved that the use of the Wii-Fit improves balance problems and helps people with diseases that may influence balance. Thus the research question of this paper is; is the Wii-Fit helpful in patients with MS who suffer from balance disorders. Incident MS was first discovered in 1849, although the first known description of a person with MS was from the fourteenth century in Holland (NINDS, 2007). MS is three times more common in women compared to men (NCEZID, DHQP, 2010). However, in patients who develop the MS symptoms later in life, the gender ratio is more equalized (NINDS, 2007). MS is not known as a childhood disorder because the statistics show that only 2 to 5% of the cases start before the age of 16. In addition, many of the MS symptoms are parallel to those of pediatric neurological disorders like metabolic disorders and leukodystrophies (NCEZID, DHQP, 2010). Finally, there is no universally acknowledged diagnostic criterion to diagnose MS in childhood (NCEZID, DHQP, 2010). There are no recent statistics that show specifically how many people have MS in the world, but there are 250,000 to 350,000 patients with MS in the United States diagnosed directly by the physician (NINDS, 2007). This single statistic estimates that 200 new cases are diagnosed each week. The majority of patients with MS experience their initial symptoms between the ages of 20 and 40. Symptoms are rarely seen before the age of 15 or after the age of 60 (NINDS, 2007). Caucasians are two times more susceptible to the disease than any other race (NINDS, 2007). Furthermore, MS is five times more common in temperate climates such as Canada, northern United States, and Europe than in hot and humid region (NINDS, 2007). Scientists have periodically received reports of MS epidemics, and the result was that the Faeroe Islands north of Scotland during World War II had the highest clusters of patients with MS ever. Yet there is no sufficient evidence that there is a direct relationship between the environmental factor and the increasing risk of MS. On the other hand, there is definitive evidence that the risk of developing or even worsening the condition of the disease is greater after acute viral infection (NINDS, 2007). Pathophysiology of MS MS is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS) (CALABRESI, 2004). It has no underlying cause and its characterized by axonal demyelination followed by degeneration (CALABRESI, 2004). The demylination specifically affects the myelin sheath, which is a shielding fatty rich protein insulator that covers the axons (Norris, wells, 2007). The myelin sheath aids in the rhythmic flow of the nerve impulses and the transmission of action potentials, which allows the communication between the brain and the different parts of the body (Norris, wells, 2007). However, in patients with MS the myelin sheath is destroyed by the bodys immune system. The immune system, which is the bodys defense system is malfunctioned in patients with MS, it fails to differentiate between the bodys own tissues and the foreign bodies, and starts to send diseased fighting cells to the CNS tissues to begin the destruction of the bodys own myelin sheath. When the bodys immune system starts to attack the bodys tissues this is called an autoimmune disease (Norris, wells, 2007). Patients with MS usually experience their first symptoms as young adults (Norris, wells, 2007). Most of the patients are diagnosed with this condition at a young age, because very often at this age patients are going to school, driving a car, or starting a family. While performing the different activities of their life; patients eventually realize that they are not functioning well and there is something they need to be concerned about. Approximately 80 percent of patients with MS have their symptoms in a relapse and remit state; meaning that the symptoms come and go, making both the diagnosis and prognosis difficult (Norris, wells, 2007). MS is considered a non contagious disease and in most cases it does not shorten the patients life span (Norris, wells, 2007). There are specific types of MS; 80 percent of patients begin with the relapsing-remitting type of MS (RRMS), which is characterized by the short-term flare ups or what is commonly called exacerbations or relapses, and it can last up to three months (Norris, wells, 2007). These relapses are followed by a partial or complete recovery or what is called remission. Women are diagnosed with RRMS more than men (Norris, wells, 2007). A significant number of patients go into a period of remission that lasts up to one year or even more, during this period of remission patients might experience mild symptoms that did not fully recover following the exacerbation or they may be symptoms free. However, even if patients do not get worse between the relapses or even if they dont show any symptoms, there will be continuous changes in the CNS (Norris, wells, 2007). More than 90 percent of patients with RRMS will eventually enter a second phase of RRMS if they were not treated suitably. This is called secondary progressive MS (SPMS) (Norris, wells, 2007). SPMS, occurs when the patient is experiencing worsening of the symptoms progressively. Nearly 80 percent of patients with MS are diagnosed with SPMS (Norris, wells, 2007). Most of the other 20 percent are diagnosed with primary progressive MS (PPMS). This type of MS doesnt show a relapsing and remitting state, instead it is characterized by a progressive and steady worsening of the neurological status of the patient (Norris, wells, 2007). PPMS is fairly divided between the genders unlike the RRMS. Additionally, there are other types of MS but they are very rare such as; malignant or fulminant MS, benign MS, and progressive-relapsing MS (Appendix A) (Norris, wells, 2007). There are many diagnostic tools used to evaluate the status of patients with MS. The most common diagnostic tool is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and lumbar puncture (Norris, wells, 2007). MRI, which views the lesions of the brain and spine, uses radiofrequency, computer stimulator, and a big electromagnet to contribute in providing a high quality picture of the brain (Norris, wells, 2007). MRI is used with patients with MS to assess the location and size of the lesions (Norris, wells, 2007). However, inflammation can be better assessed with the use of gadolinium-enhancement, which is a type of dye that is injected in the patient before doing the actual MRI (Norris, wells, 2007). Moreover, the other tool that is commonly used with MS is lumbar puncture or spinal tap; where a thin needle is entered at the base of the spinal cord and a small sample of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is collected (Norris, wells, 2007). CSF is the liquid that surrounds both the spinal cord and the brain (Norris, wells, 2007). After taking a small sample of the CSF, laboratory tests are initiated to evaluate the chemical and cellular abnormalities of the sample. The physicians mainly look for oligoclonal bands, which are atypical immune proteins called immunoglobulins. These proteins present in the CSF of nearly 90 percent of patients with MS, but these proteins can also occur with other neurological conditions other than MS (Norris, wells, 2007). When comparing the MRI and lumbar puncture, the MRI is more useful and conclusive tool for diagnosing MS. On the other hand, lumbar puncture can be useful in case the MRI results are normal or indecisive therefore its used less often. Othe r less common diagnostic tools for MS are; magnetic resonance spectroscopy and evoked potential tests (Norris, wells, 2007). Symptoms of MS Symptoms of MS can be divided into three categories, the initial symptoms, the prodromal symptoms, and the symptoms that come along the course of MS (W.B Matthews, 1992). The initial symptoms, which appear in the first episode of MS are often taken by the patient from the history. However, the longer the time between the relapse and the questioning, the more inaccurate the information taken from the patient. Recent review of published reports revealed the incidence of the initial symptoms as follows, weakness in one or more limbs 40%, optic neuritis 22%, paraesthesiae 21%, diplopia 12%, vertigo 5%, and disturbance of micturition 5% (W.B Matthews, 1992). The prodromal symptoms are non specific symptoms that involve fatigue, irritability, limb pains, poor memory, and weight loss. These symptoms may be considered insignificant, because at this stage the abnormalities will not be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid (W.B Matthews, 1992). Furthermore, there are signs and symptoms that appear along the course of MS and in every advanced case of MS such as: weakness, spasticity, ataxia, tremors, sensory loss, visual disturbances and loss of bladder control (W.B Matthews, 1992; MCW health link, 2007). Then again, there are symptoms that are unusually seen with MS patients and it not proven to be associated with MS or any other medical condition that the patient suffers from such as: narcolepsy, spasmodic torticollis, and the restless legs syndrome (W.B Matthews, 1992). One of the constant features of advanced MS is weakness of the limbs; the most common form of distribution is asymmetrical weakness of both lower limbs. The least common forms of distributions are weakness of one lower limb, one lower limb and one upper limb always on the same side, or weakness of one upper limb (W.B Matthews, 1992). Weakness may be attributed to a slowly progressive case of hemi paresis, which begins with one lower limb, and then progressively more to the upper limb of the ipsilateral side. In the cases of hemiplegia in MS; the face is spared and not influenced by the weakness. However, the weakness can reach the respiratory muscles, which may lead to serious complications and even death (W.B Matthews, 1992). Signs of sudden deterioration include restriction of respiratory movement and rapid shallow breathing; these signs are not to be taken for granted especially if the patient is having weakness in both upper limbs. Weakness in the respiratory muscles may lead to an increase in energy consumption during walking and during performing other types of activities; that is called chronic respiratory weakness (W.B Matthews, 1992). Another feature of advanced MS is spasticity (W.B Matthews, 1992; MCW health link, 2007). Spasticity is a disorder of voluntary movement and increased resistance to passive movement (W.B Matthews, 1992). It usually affects the lower limbs more than the upper limbs. Nevertheless, this increase in tone is beneficial for some patients, because the increase in extensor tone can hold the weak knee extended during walking. However, if the tone increases beyond the reasonable limit, the patient will maintain the foot in planter flexion and that will make ambulation even harder and more difficult to the patient (W.B Matthews, 1992). Obtaining the desired tone to facilitate walking was proved impossible to attain. At the progressive stage of the disease there is an increase in the extensor tone, which is also called extensor spasm. This extensor spasm is considered inconvenient more than disabling e.g., it is extremely painful and occurs at night or when the patient gets out of bed in the mor ning. The patient needs several minutes for the spasm to subside (W.B Matthews, 1992). In advanced cases, flexor tone may take over and that will affect patients ability to walk (W.B Matthews, 1992). Patients may experience frequent falling, and it may be impossible to use a wheelchair. Eventually, patients may develop contractures mainly in the hamstrings and iliopsoas muscles (W.B Matthews, 1992). One of the major symptoms that patients with MS complain of is fatigue (W.B Matthews, 1992; MCW health link, 2007). There are two main types of fatigue in patients with MS; the first type is physical fatigue and the other type is psychological fatigue (MCW Health link, 2007). However, in patients with MS its very difficult to distinguish the cause of the complain, is it from fatigue or weakness (W.B Matthews, 1992). The only factor that distinguishes the pathological fatigue of a patient with MS from an ordinary fatigue of a healthy person is the adverse effect of heat, thus it means when the patient gets lethargic and tired when facing the hot and humid weather (W.B Matthews, 1992). Sensory symptoms are also common to occur with this type of patients especially at the onset of the relapse (W.B Matthews, 1992). Usually the abnormal sensation begins in a single foot, then after few days it spread up to involve the whole bilateral lower limbs, perineum, buttock, and different levels of the trunk that vary with each patient. Patients usually describe the feeling as tingling sensation (W.B Matthews, 1992). There are many other signs and symptoms that may affect the MS patients such as urinary frequency, urgency, and incontinence (MCW Health link, 2007). In addition, some patients with MS may complain of pain, restless legs, lhermittes sign, and even mental changes such as dementia, affective disorder, and schizophrenia (W.B Matthews, 1992). Finally, cerebellar dysfunction is a very common feature of advanced MS (W.B Matthews, 1992). This includes nystagmus, cerebellar ataxia, and dysarthria. Cerebellar ataxia can affect the gait. Truncal ataxia, the most common form of cerebellar dysfunction, is observed when the patient is sitting and it contribute to the increasing complaint of poor balance (W.B Matthews, 1992). Conventional treatment The current methods of treatment and medications aim at controlling the symptoms of MS, slowing the progression of the disease itself, and preventing undesirable side effects (MCW Health link, 2007). Significant numbers of people with MS suffer from spasticity (W.B Matthews, 1992; MCW Health link, 2007). Spasticity is often treated with tranquilizers and muscle relaxants such as Baclofen or lioresal, which can be taken orally and in serious cases they are injected into the spinal cord. They are considered the most commonly prescribed medication for spasticity. Other medications that are less commonly used for the treatment of spasticity are Tizanidine or zanaflex, Diazepam or Valium, and clonazepam or Klonopin (MCW Health link, 2007). One of the common problems that patients with MS deal with is visual disturbances (MCW Health link, 2007). Which can recover with time even without any kind of medical intervention, the physician may prescribe a short course of therapy with methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol) that may be introduced intravenously. In addition, oral steroids are occasionally used (MCW Health link, 2007). Fatigue, which is the most common symptom of MS can be treated according to its type (MCW Health link, 2007). The physical fatigue can be avoided simply by instructing the patient to avoid heat and excessive physical activity. For psychological fatigue, the physician can prescribe anti-depressant medications for the patient. Other medications that can decrease fatigue are pemoline (Cylert), and amantadine (Symmetrel) (MCW Health link, 2007). Many patients with MS may suffer from different kinds of pain (MCW Health link, 2007). Aspirin or acetaminophen can be very helpful in controlling back pain and muscle pain. Additionally, physical therapy is also advantageous in controlling the pain by correcting the improper posture, and strengthening and stretching the muscles (MCW Health link, 2007). Some patients may develop bladder dysfunction and that can lead to urinary infection as the disease progresses (MCW Health link, 2007). Antibiotics are often used in the treatment of urinary tract infections. In addition, the patient may take vitamin C supplements or drink cranberry juice to acidify the urine and thus to decrease the chance of further infections (MCW Health link, 2007). In patients with urinary incontinence bladder pace-maker can be implanted through surgery. It is controlled by a hand-held device that is carried by the patient, allowing the patient to control the muscles that surrounds the bladder, by contracting the m when emptying the bladder and relaxing them in case of urine retention (MCW Health link, 2007). Patients with MS may develop tremors, which can be often challenging during the therapy course because it often makes the therapy difficult and takes a long time. Tremors can be minimally controlled with drugs, or in severe cases it can be treated with surgical intervention, but the best treatment for the tremors associated with MS is by taking physical therapy (MCW Health link, 2007). Finally, physical therapy rehabilitation is an integral part in the treatment of patients with MS (Patricia G, 2007). Its very necessary that the physical therapy team posses the important knowledge, sensitivity, and experience when dealing with these kinds of patients. In addition, they have to appreciate the variety of symptoms that the patient may suffer from, and know how to deal with every emotional, social, vocational, and financial issues that their patients complain of. The physical therapist goals should be focused on the following: educating the patient about the disease and how to deal with it, providing home programs for dealing with symptoms, making the patient independent as much as possible, offering resources for community programs, providing equipments for the patients and their caregivers (Patricia G, 2007). Wii-Fit Treatment The Wii is a software and a hardware game package that belongs to the Nintendo wii, which is designed mainly to improve fitness and balance while in the same time providing entertainment for the users (Williams et al., 2010). Its a video game that basically detects movement that is taking place on a balance board to allow the individual to play a variety of interactive games (Appendix B). The balance board is a flat board that the individual stands on, and it includes pressure sensors to detect any changes in weight shifting and the center of balance (Williams et al., 2010). Recent studies have shown that the Wii-Fit can be used to treat or improve balance in a number of disorders that affect the balance. In 2010, Williams et al., conducted a study to determine if the Nintendo Wii-Fit is a reliable and useful intervention in community dwelling older adults. Older adults over the age of 70 and have high risk of falling were recruited for the study. They participated in computer-based exercises, and during their participation, fear of falling and balance were evaluated at weeks 0, 4, and 12. After the completion of the program, the participants were interviewed to know if the intervention was beneficial for them or not. Nearly 80% of the participants attended 75% or more of the training sessions, after week 12, the Berg Balance scores were obtained from all the participants and it was found that theres a significant decrease in the risk of falling for the participants. The authors concluded that the Wii-Fit exercise program is beneficial and suitable for p eople with high risk of falling and thus, the Wii-Fit has the ability to improve balance (Williams et al., 2010). Another study was conducted on children with Down syndrome (Abdel Rahman, 2010). Its widely known that children with Down syndrome have lower scores on agility and balance tests compared to other children with other mental impairments. The main idea of this study was to examine if the Wii-Fit is helpful in improving balance in children with Down syndrome. Before starting the trial, balance was tested by using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency for thirty children aged 10 to 13 years with Down syndrome. The children were then equally and randomly divided into two groups; the study group received 6 weeks of Wii-Fit training and the control group received an ordinary physical therapy program. At the end of the program, the study group showed significant improvement in agility and balance compared to the control group. The author recommends that the Wii-Fit games can help in disorders that cause balance problems (Abdel Rahman, 2010). Rationale Based on the literature review of this paper, the use of the Wii-Fit was proven beneficial for patients that have balance problems such as children with Down syndrome and community dwelling older adults that have high risk of falling. In addition, the presented information proved that MS can affect balance significantly. Thus since the Wii-Fit was useful in the cases of Down syndrome and community dwelling older adults, then it is possible that it would be useful in patients with MS that have balance problems. Appendix A Types of MS Appendix B The Wii-Fit package The Balance Board

Atlantis Myth vs Today’s Science :: History

Atlantis Myth vs Today’s Science Now that we know the foundation of the Atlantis myth we can now speculate if this is even possible with today’s science and geography. Atlantis was said to be bigger than Asia Minor and Libya combined. This statement made by Plato in the Critias is most likely not true because Atlantis would have to be in the Mediterranean Sea or within a few miles of the Mediterranean Sea such as the Atlantic Ocean or Indian Ocean. The other thought could be that the size was gravely misjudged through the ages and maybe when it got to Plato the myth had outgrown the size of the city. A more logical explanation could be that Atlantis was smaller than once though and was present at the western part of the Mediterranean, between the coasts of West Africa and East South America or somewhere by the horn of Africa. Many are skeptic as to whether Atlantis existed solely because of the size but many researchers believe that the books Timeus and Critias are too detailed to be made up by Plato. Unfortunately the books of Plato’s thoughts and descriptions get cut off at the end of the second book hence ending the story of Atlantis quite abruptly. Some think that either the end of the story was lost during a burning of an attack on one of the Greek cities or that Plato’s patron for the project, Dionysius I, was going to publish the books as prose and poem and try to become famous. Unfortunately Dionysius died unexpectedly and Plato did not finish the story. Ever since the idea of Atlantis being a city explorers and scientists have looked for Atlantis. One idea is that the Mid-Atlantic Ridge was caused by the sinking of Atlantis. But this is disproved because if Atlantis did sink in the Atlantic Ocean then it would not have created a ridge or ridge like area. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is caused by Divergent tectonic plates in the ocean which creates the ridge. The sinking of Atlantis could not have done this. Not only is this impossible but the descriptions given by Plato would also be off. The Mid-Atlantic ridge is a mountain like area going from north to south for a few thousands of miles; Plato described Atlantis a circular island that was maybe one hundred miles in diameter. Therefore this theory does not work.

My Life as a College Student

GORDON KUSSI TABIRI English Writing: From Start to Finish My life as a college student Seven years ago I gained admission to pursue a B. A program in one of the prestigious universities in Ghana. The name of the university is Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). I was offered a four year bachelor degree program leading to a degree in Sociology and Social Work. Thus, I read BA Sociology and Social Work. I was so happy at the time because of two reasons.One was that, I had tried twice to be admitted into the countries universities but refused until finally the third time of which I succeeded. The second reason why I was happy was related to the fact that I had the opportunity to continue my education to a level that I had always dream about. My first year as a fresher on campus was very interesting for me. I was to read sociology and social work as a major and Geography as my minor.I therefore registered for my courses for the first year which included subjects s uch as introduction to sociology, traditional social structure of Ghana, introduction to human geography, development of geographic thought, introduction to physical environmental systems, communication skills, introduction to computers, and ethics and etiquette in traditional systems. I read these subjects for the first and second semesters as my first year program. I attended all lectures, wrote my assignments and the years exams. The results of the exams came and I had a Cumulative Weighted Average (CWA) of 59. 17.I was so disappointed about my results and decided to make better grades no matter what it takes to do so. I wrote the second semester exams and improved upon my performance by obtaining a CWA of 60. 32. I realized the fact that increasing the hours of my studies yielded good results. My second year on campus was very exciting. This was because I made very good friends and also had acquainted myself with campus life in general. I had a good friend by name Christian Boat eng who happens to be an old classmate at Akrokerri College of Education where we both obtained our diploma in basic education in the year 2001.Christian was very instrumental in my life on campus because he taught me how to study for long hours. We actually took similar courses together in the first two years of our education in KNUST College. We were also roommates for three years and shared a lot of things together. My second year courses also included literature in English, introduction to geomorphology, theory and practice of geography, principles of cartography, concepts and theories in sociology, social structure of modern Ghana as well as the nature of social work. The courses were very challenging especially those related to geography.I had a successful year and also improved on my performance. This second year was very significant to my life because it was during this period that I decided to read a master’s program after graduation. That year helped me realized a l ot of my potentials and also changed my perception of life in general. My third year in KNUST also saw me reading courses such as perspectives in sociological theory, research methods, theoretical framework for social work methodology, industrial sociology, medical sociology, and also bamboo and rattan processing.I enjoyed reading these courses especially industrial sociology, medical sociology as well as sociological theory. During my third year, we were made to drop our minor course, so I concentrated only on the major which was sociology and social work and also other borrowed courses. I also managed to secure the same room on campus with my friend, Christian. We both studied hard and had very good grades in our third year exams. We also had lots of fun on campus until school vacated. Christian was actually based in Kumasi which is the city in Ghana were KNUST was located whereas I was also based at Accra, the capital city of Ghana.In view of this, I spent most of my school holid ays in Accra with my family. During the long vacation after the end of the third year, I had an attachment with Tetteh Quashie Memorial Hospital situated at Akuapem Mampong. I was attached to the social welfare department of the hospital where I performed generic social work. It was a great experience since I had practical training in dealing with social welfare cases of clients at the hospital, district court and the district family social welfare cases. My mentors taught me so well that by the time I finished my attachment, I had developed a passion of working as a social worker someday.After my attachment, I prepared for my final year academic work. On arriving on campus for my final year, I registered for courses such as social psychology, social development, human resource management, approaches to counselling in social work, environmental sociology and a long essay dissertation. I had actually started writing my BA thesis in the third year of my studies. My topic was, â€Å"t he role of non-formal education to the contribution of the social and economic development of Ghana: a case study of the Ejisu- Juaben Municipality†.It was a great and challenging topic to write, in that there wasn't much literature on the subject of non-formal education. Owing to that, I researched the web widely in writing this project. My supervisor by name Mr. Barnie gave me all the directions and support so well that I obtained an excellent grade in this long essay. I was very excited because I was constrained by time in combining my academic work with writing of this thesis. In spite of all the challenges, my hard work paid off with me obtaining very good grades in all my final courses I took.Thus, I completed all my forth year course exams and was ready for graduation. We were to graduate exactly one month after completion of all the necessary course requirements. I was among one of the students who were to graduate with second class upper (honors) degree in sociology a nd social work. During graduation, my uncle and a cousin of mine accompanied me, and it is a day that I will never forget in my life. I dressed neatly in my graduation gown and went through the ceremony very happy of my accomplishments. After the ceremony I took several pictures with friends and my family and we had a great party after the occasion.I would never forget my experience on campus because it transformed my life. My general outlook of life has changed tremendously. I now understand that I have great capabilities as well as weaknesses. My college experience has contributed in shaping my personality today. I have learnt to work hard to overcome my weaknesses as well as develop my potentials and capabilities. This is the reason that I had saved money to pursue a master’s program in Switzerland to be able to actualize my dreams and aspirations in life.

Examine the factors affecting the domestic division of labour among couples Essay

The Division of Labour refers to the range of tasks within a social system. This can vary from everyone doing the same thing to each person having a specialised role. The division of domestic labour is the tasks given to each person in a house unit. For example the wife may do the housework, whilst the husband goes out to work. The division of domestic labour can also include childcare and emotion work, two things that previously were completely down to the wife but now are becoming more evenly spread between family members. Cultural factors that affect the division of labour are aspects like lagged adaptation. Jonathan Gershuny said wives who are in paid work do less housework (men do 27%), but the tasks are still sex-typed: men focus on DIY where as women cook. His explanation was there are gradual changes in values- known as lagged adaptation, and that over time parental role models will show children that men do housework too. Different ethnicities have different family structures- in many American families especially, the man is still the breadwinner and head of the household, while the wife cooks, cleans, and bears and raises children. Conjugal (marital) roles will vary depending on culture, if the society around a family typically has the man working then spending his leisure time with colleagues, that’s how that family will function because they are socialised that way. Some legal factors influence the division of labour, for instance it’s now easier and more socially acceptable for couples to get a divorce, so in a way there’s more pressure on men to keep things civil in the household. If the wife is unhappy, she can just leave. On the other hand, men and women don’t always have equal pay, which affects the division of labour as a popular belief in families is that the highest earner should do the least domestic work. Economic factors have had a significant impact on the division of labour,  ¾ of married/cohabiting women in the UK make money, which has resulted in ‘The New Man’. This is the idea that since women are bringing in an income, men are more willing to do domestic work. Rosemary Crompton pointed out that men do more in the home when the woman’s economical power increases (though the DOL is still unequal). However, women only earn  ¾ of what men earn, so men can never do quite as much housework based on their wives income. Feminists on the other hand feel that instead of a change in men, all that has altered is that women now bear a dual burden; this is the combination of paid work and domestic work. They believe modern men are benefiting from their wives’ financial income on top of them doing the housework and looking after the children. Lydia Morris found that even when the male partner is unemployed, the woman still does the domestic work as the male suffers a crisis of masculinity, so they refuse to demean themselves with housework. Women’s working hasn’t impacted on the division of childcare either; fewer than 4% of men were deemed the main child-carer in 1996. Additionally, Hochschild defined the concept of emotion work as a job where you manage someone’s emotions (for example an air stewardess). Feminists say women are working, looking after children/domestic labour, and are emotionally supporting the family. Jean Dunscombe and Dennis Marsden call this a triple shift (emotion work + domestic labour + paid work). So, in reality, the division of labour hasn’t changed through economic factors as much as perhaps it should have done. Many technological advances have made domestic labour easier, including effective contraception (the pill, implant and condom) as modern families are often smaller than in previous years. Most births are planned, and so the household is well prepared for the extra work. In addition, labour saving devices, like the Hoover and dish washer have resulted in men being more likely to help with housework as it’s now less time consuming and strenuous. Social factors that have influenced the division of labour include the lack of stigma attached to cohabiting couples; consequently they feel no pressure to get married. This could mean that gender roles aren’t as strictly enforced. Another important consideration is that in recent years, religion has become a less prominent aspect of life, a lot of families now won’t be religious at all and therefore don’t feel the need to treat each other a certain way as dictated by religion. Most social interaction of the current day can be traced back to religious codes of conduct, it’s possible than non-Christian societies expect wives to be treated differently to Christian ones. Theoretical perspectives such as functionalism and the new right support the division of labour. They state that families need segregated conjugal roles because it’s biological instinct and that it benefits everyone, they feel these marital roles help to organise the family. One functionalist, Talcott Parsons believed that males should take on an instrumental role; they should work and will be the ones to achieve success, while females should assume the expressive role (looking after the children, and catering for the emotional needs of the family). A popular view in right-wing politics, functionalism and the new right is that couples shouldn’t be equal, as the male should be the head of the family, while retaining the role of breadwinner. March of Progress sociologists (like Elizabeth Bott, Young and Willmott) argue the family is becoming more symmetrical with joint conjugal roles. These joint roles have become typical of working class life, in Young and Willmott’s opinions. Feminists like Ann Oakley disagree and say that segregated conjugal roles are socially constructed by men to benefit men as we still live in a patriarchal society. Her research found that men only have to do a small fraction of the domestic work for the household to qualify as symmetrical. This shows that although the UK advertises itself as a modern society, sexist views of the past are a frequent occurrence in our families. (A.N: This was marked by my AS-level Sociology teacher and was given 18/24 marks, making it a Grade C essay. Some tips she gave- Use AO2 phrases to show evaluation, and cite evidence to support perspectives. It is written in UK English. Apologies for any spelling errors and incorrect Sociologist names.)

Family: the Foundation of a Strong Society

Family: The Foundation of a Strong Society â€Å"We the people of the Unites States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity† (The Preamble to the American Constitution). Of the five principles that are stated in the Preamble, one is fundamentally unique and that is to promote the general Welfare. The responsibility to promote the common good rests not just with the government, but with all citizens.Our Founding Fathers established all the rights in the Constitution not for the individual's gain, but for the common good. Marriage is important because it affirms what our Founding Fathers understood; the purpose for this country is to use our freedoms to promote the common good. There is no question that marriage is beneficial to society because it promotes the common good for children, adults, and society. The evidence exists to show that children who are raised by their biological, married parents are more likely to become happy, healthy, and morally upright citizens in the future.According to one study, â€Å"fathers who are involved in their child’s life produce children who have better emotional health, do better academically, and attain higher job status as adults† (Carlson, Corcoran 783). Other studies have shown that â€Å"adults who believed their mother was accessible and devoted to them in childhood were less likely to suffer from depression and low self-esteem as adults. They were also found to be more resilient in dealing with life changing events† (Hojat 213).Children need to know that their parents are always there for them. Life has enough pressures on its own without having to deal with uninvolved parents. According to a 2003 Gallup Poll, most adults desire to marry and have children, so adults, too, are able to enjoy many benefits of marriage. On e benefit of marriage is greater wealth and higher incomes. â€Å"One study found that married men earn approximately 22 percent more than men who never married† (Stratton 210). Not only do married men enjoy a higher income, they may enjoy better health.According to a study in 2000 it was discovered that â€Å"married persons have the lowest occurrences of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease† (Pienta, Hayward, Jenkins 575). Benefits of marriage do not only affect men, but marriage also affects women. A U. S. Department of Justice report in May 2000 found that married women had lower rates of violent abuse by a spouse, while divorced women had the highest rates of violence by their spouse, ex-spouse or boyfriend. The social, health, and economic aspects of marriage are additional benefits that lead to stronger communities and a stronger society.Married women are less likely to turn to abortion than unmarried women. Research performed by the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform states that, â€Å"64. 4% of all abortions are performed on never-married women; Married women account for 18. 4% of all abortions and divorced women obtain 9. 4%. † Therefore, human life is protected. With fewer abortions, each stage of life is more likely to have greater impact in every phase of life. Not only is life valued more, but so is independence from outside influences. Strong marriages result in less dependency upon the government.According to a recent study by Bridgette Maher, â€Å"divorce in America costs taxpayers $33. 3 billion per year. † Married couples also tend to show greater responsibility in life than do their single counterparts. Another study showed â€Å"People who are married are more likely than their unmarried counterparts to vote, volunteer and become involved in church and the schools† (Keyes). Over the years, marriage has been severely weakened by societal pressures. We have allowed the definition of marriag e to be re-defined. Lifelong, monogamous marriages must become the accepted normalcy.Marriage should be a place of refuge for all of its members and a haven for children. Marriage is hard work and takes much give and take in each relationship. However, marriage is justified by the many social and economic benefits for children, adults and society and is therefore a foundation of a strong society. American automobile executive, Lee Iacocca, sums it up, â€Å"The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works is the family. † Works Cited â€Å"Abortion Statistics. † The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform. N. p. , n. d. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. Who's having abortions (marital status)? 64. 4% of all abortions are performed on never-married women; Married women account for 18. 4% of all abortions and divorced women obtain 9. 4%. Carlson, Marcia J. , and Mary E. Corcoran. â€Å"Family Structure and Children's Behavioral and Cognitive Outcomes. † Journ al of Marriage and Family 63. 3 (2001): 779-92. Print. For example studies have shown that fathers that are involved in their child’s life produce children who have better emotional health, do better academically, and attain higher job status as adults.Henshaw, S. K. â€Å"Unintended Pregnancy in the United States. † Family Planning Perspectives 30. 1 (1998): 24-29. Web. Most women getting abortions (83%) are unmarried; 67% have never married, and 16% are separated, divorced, or widowed. Married women are significantly less likely than unmarried women to resolve unintended pregnancies through abortion. Hojat, Mohammadreza. â€Å"Satisfaction With Early Relationships With Parents and Psychosocial Attributes in Adulthood: Which Parent Contributes More? † The Journal of Genetic Psychology 159. (1998): 203-20. Print. Other studies have shown that adults who believed their mother was accessible and devoted to them in childhood were less likely to suffer from depressi on and low self-esteem as adults. They were also found to be more resilient in dealing with life changing events. Keyes, Corey L. M. â€Å"Social Civility in the United States. † Sociological Inquiry 72. 3 (2002): 393-408. Print. People who are married are more likely than their unmarried counterparts to vote, volunteer and become involved in church and the schools.Maher, Bridgette. â€Å"The Benefits of Marriage. † The Benefits of Marriage. N. p. , n. d. Web. 09 Oct. 2012. . According to a recent study, divorce in America costs taxpayers $33. 3 billion per year. David G. Schramm, â€Å"What Could Divorce Be Costing Your State? The Costly Consequences of Divorce in Utah: The Impact on Couples, Communities, and Government,† A Preliminary Report, June 25, 2003, Publication in Process, Department of Family, Consumer, and Human Development, Utah State University. Pienta, A. M. , M.D. Hayward, and K. R. Jenkins. â€Å"Health Consequences of Marriage for the Retireme nt Years. † Journal of Family Issues 21. 5 (2000): 559-86. Print. Another study in 2000, found that married persons have the lowest occurrences of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. Stratton, Leslie S. â€Å"Examining The Wage Differential For Married And Cohabiting Men. † Economic Inquiry 40. 2 (2002): 199-212. Print. One study found that married men earn approximately 22 percent more than men who never married.

Assess the major themes, based on article ''Sharing In The Global Essay - 1

Assess the major themes, based on article ''Sharing In The Global Economy -An Introduction'' written by Adam W. Parson edited by Rejesh Makwana - Essay Example These varied images figure into diverse representations of globalization by which it mean broad understandings of its characteristics, dynamics, causes, and consequences. Some representations are explicitly constructed, publicized, and defended against alternatives – as in the neoliberal narratives offered by the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), or the critical narratives of groups that oppose corporate globalization, such as Global Exchange. But there are also what we can call implicit representations arising from media coverage of globalization-related issues, formed as people pass the images and ideas they encounter through the filter of their own perspectives and experiences, and build understandings of their own. These diverse representations – unfurled in different venues, to different audiences, with different ends matter in so far as they affect the dense networks of forces and relations that shape how globalization unfolds. Thus, for e xample, they may affect such varied processes as: the buying behavior of first-world consumers, the bargaining power of labor, the success and freedom from regulation of multinational corporations, the mandates of elected officials, the authority and funding of the international financial institutions, and shifts of authority for regulating international trade and investment from national into supranational domains. Globalization is almost always understood to be an acceleration of processes of economic integration, spurred by free trade, that have been underway for centuries. To be sure, there are lively debates within the economics profession about the levels and distributions of benefits from globalization and the extent to which it has excesses and inefficiencies that public policy should address. However, few mainstream economists would agree that new conceptual frameworks